Cincinnati Bengals: Wild Card Report Card

Throughout the 2009 season, I watched the Cincinnati Bengals battle adversity on and off the field.  

They seemed to take on these challenges and, more often than not, succeeded in winning football games. A strong defense, good rushing attack, and a quarterback capable of leading his team with the game on the line resulted in an AFC North title.  

On Saturday evening, it all came to an end.

Offense

I don't recall ever seeing a running back go as hard as Cedric Benson did in this game. He broke tackles and finished with 169 yards on the ground, a franchise record for a playoff game. Benson accounted for the Bengals' second touchdown with a 47-yard run to the end zone in the fourth quarter.

After connecting with Laveranues Coles on an 11-yard touchdown pass to take the lead in the first quarter, Carson Palmer was not good.  

He repeatedly threw high and never seemed to get into any kind of rhythm with his receivers. He completed 18 of 36 passes for 146 yards.

There were some drops, but Palmer seemed awkward and uncomfortable. Chad Ochocinco didn't have a reception until the fourth quarter when Darrelle Revis appeared to give a little cushion in coverage.  

Grade:  C .

Defense

The defense has been there all season for the Bengals and I think they simply ran out of gas. I also think the loss of Rey Maualuga hurt a lot.  

Mark Sanchez deserves a ton of credit. Despite being a rookie in his first playoff game, Sanchez completed 12 of 15 passes for 182 yards. He was in control and showed poise from start to finish, giving the performance Bengals fans expected from Palmer. Shonn Greene ran for 135 yards.  

Grade:  C .

Special Teams

I certainly think we have seen the last of Shayne Graham.  He woke up on Saturday as the fourth-most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history. He went to bed as a free agent-to-be who just missed two field goals in a playoff game.  

Grade:  F .

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